Largs North fire station will not shut down temporarily, despite potentially deadly toxins being detected in the blood of nearly half of the firefighters based at the station.

Of the 20 crew members based at the station, nine have extremely high levels of perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) in their blood while two others returned above-normal results.

PFAS is used in firefighting foam and has been linked to cancer in overseas studies.

Earlier this year, SA became the first state to ban the use of PFAS firefighting foams through legislation.

MFS assistant chief fire officer Roy Thompson said nine firefighters returned “concerning” samples containing more than 100ng/ml – one as high as 470ng/ml.

However, Mr Thompson said there was “virtually no risk” of further contamination and that the station would continue operating as normal.

He said crew members likely became contaminated through a garden patch used to grow fresh fruit and vegetables at the rear of the compound.

Chickens are kept on site to lay eggs.

Erin Brockovich 'down under' to support class action lawsuit5:55

American legal clerk and environmental activist, Erin Brockovich, says that there has been a 'cover-up' by the Department of Defence regarding water contamination caused by the PFAS chemical in parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Mrs Brockovich is in Australia to offer support for a class action lawsuit against the Department and has drawn parralells between this case and the famous 'Hinkley' case in 1993 that made her famous.
The PFAS chemical is commonly found in the foam used in ADF fire-fighting drills.
The organisation has refused to accept liability.
Image: Matt Turner / News Corp Australia

August 31st 2018

6 months ago

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“(The firefighters) are concerned but they’ve had a lot of their fear allayed now that they understand what the risks actually are,” he said.

“If there is anything it would be in the groundwater or the soil.

“That basically means don’t eat any vegetables that might be grown in that.”

Recent blood tests by the MFS of 215 firefighters found 84 returned above-average levels of PFAS.

Contaminations have previously been detected at Adelaide station, Oakden station, Angle Park training Centre, on some appliances and at Adelaide and Oakden dams.

All sites are now within accepted safety limits.

Largs North MFS fire station.Source:The Advertiser

Mr Thompson said soil and groundwater at Largs North station would be tested on Tuesday. The station building and equipment including trucks and boats have returned negative readings for PFAS.

“We will have those results back before Christmas and we’ll know if there’s any contamination at the site,” Mr Thompson said.

He said it was unclear why Largs North firefighters tested positive at such a concentrated level.

Blood testing on former and current staff has been extended until June 30.

Most of those 215 already tested have volunteered to be part of a national trial to uncover how PFAS levels can be reduced.